Knitting machine and method of operating same



y Dec. 2o, i938.

4 Shee Jcs-Sheeac l Dec. 20, 1938. N. LEVIN 2,141,042

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OFVOPERATING SAME original Filed Dec. 6, 1955 4 'sheets-.sheet 2 Inventor Dec. 20, 193s.

N. LEVIN 2,141,042 KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME Original Filed Dec. 6, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Z4 f ,FG B\"\ N4 LEVIN Dec. zo, 1931s.v

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME 4l Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Deo.

Iliff/ffl? A ffl/1151515# Patented 20, 1938 UNITED "STATES KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD F OPERATING SALIE Nathan Levin, Trenton, N. J.

Application December'l, 1933, Serial No. 701,194 Renewed September 2, 1938 25 Claims.

This invention relates to a circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having novel means to wrap individual yarns about each needle of the needle circle.

The novel yarn wrapping means may be applied to machines knittingplain or rib fabrics and having either stationary or rotary needle cylinders for the purpose of forming designs inthe fabric; The wrapping means may be used on l0 machines for making rib.tops or for making stockings. The novel yarn wrapping means may also be shogged relative to the needle cylinder to change the relationship of each wrap yarn to each needle.- l y The novel yarn wrapping means when used to wrap a yarn about each needle in every course,

in addition to the ground yarn, may be used to make run proof fabric of fine gage, dueto the construction of said means.

The novel yarn wrapping means may be used in combination with needle selection for tuck stitch knitting in a novel manner to form fabric having combined wrap andv tuck stitch designs.

The novel yarn wrapping means may also be used to wrap each thread (equal in number to the needles of the needle circle) about two needles so that each needle is wrapped by two yarns, the adjacent yarns overlapping about a common needle. With this wrapping action the ground threadmay be eliminated and 'a true warp fabric produced. The production of this warp fabric is on a circular independent needle 'machine by iontinuous progressive wrapping and needle ac- The invention is `disclosed in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a. plan view of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a modication applied to a rotary cylinder machine,

' Fig. 4 is a sectional view of another type of yarn Wrapping means in combination` with a needle selector, y Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of wrapping on rotary needle cylinders,

Fig. 6 is a layout View showing the patlr of the iieedles for wrapping and for tuck stitch knit- Fig. 'i7 is a.layout view showing thepath of the needles for another type of wrapping and for tuck stitch knitting,

Fig. 8 is a View showing a portion of the tubular warp knit fabric, Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing -the relation of each warp yarn to two adjacent needles and Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing the manner of wrapping on stationary needle cylinders. 5

In Fig. 1 the needle cylinder of a rib -machine of well known construction is indicated atv I0, the dial at I-I, the cylinder cam ring at I2 and the dial. cam ring at I3. The usual cylinder and dial cams actuate the cylinder needles I4 and the dial 10 needles Iiiv in the usual way'to make rib fabric, with certain changes in the needle action when wrap and tuck stitch work is to be made. Jacks I6, individual to each needle I4 and slidable in the needle grooves underneath the needles, have.. 15

a series of butts I'I located at points along the length of the jacks adapted to be acted upon selectively by cams I8 to engage and raise the needles I4` selectively in the usual way for a purpose to be described. The jacks and raising cams 2o may be replaced by any other selecting device as desired. The cylinder and dial are stationary and A the cam rings rotate in the' usual way.

The dial II is fastened to stationary shaft I9 by means of screw 20, such construction support- 25 ing the dial and keeping it stationary. Surrounding the shaft I9 is rotary tubular shaft 2| to whichdial cam ring I3 is fastened, the shaft 2| thus causing cam ring I3 to rotate counterclockwise. The means for rotating tube 2| and cam 30 ring I2 in unison are 'well known and for that reason have not been shown in further detail. Likewise as to shaft I9 and outside stationary tubular shaft 22 surrounding rotary tube 2i.

`'Ei'xtending up from the rotary cam ring I2 are 35 yoke posts- 23, one on each side of the machine, supporting the concentric annular outside ring 24 which rotates'with the-cam ring I 2. Fitted inside the top ledge of ring 24 is stationary yoke ring 25 having arms 2B and hub 21 fastened to tube 4o 22 by one or more screws 28. 4The function of yoke ring 25, amongother things, is to steady the rotary tube 2i and keep the same running true on the center line of the machine. The yoke ring 25 is centered by the tube 22 and by the rotary 45 outside ring 24. Fitted inside the bottom ledge of ring 24 is annular adjusting ring 29 held fast in adjusted position and-rotating with ring 24 by one ormore screws 3l). "Ring 29 has two' upstanding spaced lugs 3| on each side thereof for 50 a purpose to be described, and threaded holes 32 therebetween to receive cap screws 33.- Annular plate 34 has two depending lugs 35, one on each side, fitting into the spaced lugs 3i and adjustable therein radially of the machine to make 55 plate 34 eccentric to the needlecylinder. Cap screws 33 passing through slots in lugs 35 hold the plate fast to adjusting ring 29, and since ring 29 is fast to ring 24, which in turn is fastened to yoke posts 23 in the cam ring I2, the plate 34 rotates in unison with the cam ring I2. Plate 34 has two guide cap screws 36 thereon slightly overlapping the inside ledge of the circular cut out 3'I in which the yarn cylinder base 38 is seated, the screws 36 acting to keep base 38 in position, but permitting plate 34 to rotate freely with relation to base 38. Said base 38 has a series of holes 39 therein for wrap yarns 40, one for each needle I4. Said base 38 is also eccentric to the needle cylinder since itis concentric with eccentric plate 34. Said base 38 also has .anarm 4| fast thereto by means of screws 42, being cut out as shown in Fig. 1 so that screws 36 may pass thereunder as plate 34 rotates. The base 38 is kept from 'rotating with plate 34, so far as rotation about the machine is concerned, by means of arm 4I which lies in the path of adjustable screw 43 in one arm 26 of the stationary yoke ring 25. By turning screw 43 the base 38 may be angularly adjusted with relation to the needle cylinder, and when in adjusted position the screw 43 may be locked by the lock nut shown. Spring 44 acts to keep arm 4I against screw 43 to prevent accidental movement thereof. 'I'he base 38 may be said to be floating in rotary plate 34.

It will be seen that by removing screws 36 the wrap cylinder may be moved vertically to allow access to the dial and dial cams. Likewise by loosening screw 28 and raising yoke ring 25, the wrap cylinder may be raised still higher. Also by moving arm 4I in a clockwise direction the wrap cylinder may be shogged relative to the needle cylinder to vary the relation of the wrap yarns to the needles to change the yarn each needle receives.

'I'he yarns 40 pass down from the usual yarn bobbinsv (not shown) supported by tube 22 through holes 39 and down between the rotating annular rings 24', 29 and 34 and stationary cylinder 45 formed on the base 38. Secured to cylinder 45 is the wrap cylinder proper.46,by means of screws 48 passing through slots 4'I` and threaded into cylinder 45. By this means the wrap cylinder 46 may be adjusted vertically with relation to the base in order to be properly positioned with relation to the needle hooks. Obviously the members 38 and 46 may be integrally formed if desired. Arms49 providing windows 50 space the Wrap ring 5I which extends around the dial cam ring I3 and in close relation to the cylinder needles. Holes 52 and 53, each series being equal in numberto the'number of needles, guide yarns 40. The ring 5I is of relatively small thickness thus providing plenty of room between the same and the dial cam ring. The ring 5I is adjusted vertically to just clear the hooks of the needles in tuck position as shown to the right in Figi 1. Itis adjusted angularly so that it overlaps the needle circle for half the circumference thereof at a point which does notinclude the knitting point, the needles being intuck position or lower in the overlap as shown to the right in Fig. 1. With such adjustment of ythe overlap of ring 5I it is behind the needles as they rise from tuck position to clear the latches prior to taking body yarn 'from carrier 54 preparatory to knitting the same. The carrier 54 is fast to and rotates with the cam ring I2 in the usual way (not shown). .Likewise the body yarn bobbin is carried by cam ring I2 or a member rotating in unison therewith (not shown).

'Ihe mean diameter of ring 5I, that is, one half of the sum of the inner and outer diameters, is equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle measured from center to center of opposite needle hooks.

' The operation will now be described. First the adjusting ring 29 is moved angularly to get the overlap of the wrap circle in proper relation to the needle circle. That is, the position of overlap vof the wrap and needle circles is such that the needles do not interfere with the wrap cylinder. This is shown in Fig. 1 and will be further explained in Figs. 10 to 13. Next plate 34 is adjusted radially of ring 29 to get the proper amountv of eccentricity necessary to wrap a yarn about one needle. Then the plate `34 begins to rotate, as the machine is started, in a countercloekwise direction tending to cause the wrap cylinder member to rotate therewith, but since arm 4I takes against screw 43, the Wrap cylinder does not rotate with plate 34. Consequently it floats inside plate 34 so that the center of the wrap cylinder, which is eccentric to the needle cylinder, traverses the path of a small circle about the center line of the machine. Thus while the wrap cylinder is kept from rotating with the rotary cam ring I2, it is movable with respect to each' needle, causing each hole 53 and yarn 40 Ato traverse a small circle about its needle.

Since the yarn 4U is tied into the fabric, the path generated by each yarn is in the shape of an inverted cone, with the needle hook Well within 1 f the base of thev cone, thus wrapping the inside of the needle hookwith the yarn. AThe needle latch is held down by the loop in tuck position thereon. This motion of the wrap cylinder proceeds progressively around the machine an-d re quires an entire rotation of the machine to complete one cycle; Obviously if the needle is raised in time prior to the overlap it receives yarn, and if not raised does not receive the yarn, thus forming the basis by which the designs are made.y

The needles may be selectively raised by,any well known means, such as the jacks and cams shown in Fig. 1.

The wrap yarn circles traversed about needles closer tothe screwv 43 are smaller than those about needles further away. This is ,not detrimental for certain gages. However, for finer gages, the arm 4I by being made longer and taking against a stationary point further removed than the end of screw 43, will reduce the difference in these circles; or a compensating member may replace stop 43, such member being circular and oflcenter and rotating once to each revolution of the machine and presenting high and low surfaces as required to arm 4I so that the positions of the axis of arm 4I, passing through the center of the wrap cylinder are parallel at any degree of rotation of the machine. At present this axis assumes many oblique positions about the end 'of screw43 as the machine rotates.

This Wrapping action is shown diagrammatically in Figs. 10 to 13.` In Fig. 10 the needle circle is represented by the dotted line and the wr'ap' cylinder by the dot and dash line. A needle is shown at N and a hole 53 is shown feeding yarn ,traversed ninety degrees around N, causing the yarn 4U to lie around the needle shank. At Fig.

12 the yarn has been wrapped one hundred and eighty degrees as the overlap travels and at Fig. 13 wrapped two hundred and seventy degrees. At Fig. 10 in dotted lines is shown the complete wrap as hole 53 completes the circle and the overlap returns to the original position, one cycle completed. At any point after Fig.'13 the needlemay rise as it is clear of the overlap and take on body yarn and be drawn down to knit body and wrap yarn. It takes half a revolution to wrap with the overlap of circles, so that knitting of the last course and needle selection for the next course takes place in the other half. Similar action takes place at the other three needles shown in said views as well as at each needle of the needle As in Fig. 6 the needles are selected at S', just prior to overlap of the circles, to rise from the low position with their hooks on a level with the top of the needle cylinder (welt position), to

tuck position at T to take wrap yarn, or to remain at the low position. At about S", after the overlap has passed, the unselected needles remaining at the low position, as well as those partially raised to tuck vposition T atI S', are raised to full clearing position P, to knit the body yarn in the regular way. As a modification certain of the unselected needles remaining in the low position may be selected at S" to rise only to the tuck position as shown at T while others rise to the full clearing position along with those selected at S. Inthis way combined wrap and tuck stitches of the body yarn are'made within a single course or in spaced courses. For oneytwo or more courses the same selection is repeated at'S for tucking and then at the next course these needles are raised at S to full clearing position to` knit off the tuck stitches. By means of having two needle selecting means in combination with the constantly acting wrap means at a point spaced from the knitting cams, it is possible to combine within a singleor spaced course, both tuck and wrap stitch designs, since the tuck stitch selection is made therebetween without harm to the wrap yarns about selected needles. The selecting means `i'nay be the jacks and cams shown in Fig. 1, or vany other desirable and known means.

As a modification reference is made to Figs. 8 and 9. By increasing the eccentricity of the wrap cylinder, the circle traversed by each yarn may be increased in size, so that each yarn circle traverses 'and Wraps two cylinder needles. By having a yarn for each needle, adjusting the cylinder, raising all the needles, and increasing the eccentricity, each yarn traverses two needles, overlapping each other about a common needle. This appears diagrammatically in Fig.- 9 where each wrap yarn 40 is shown about two adjacent needles N of needle circle I4. With this action the ground thread is not fed, the fabric resulting being shown in Fig. 8 as a true warp knit fabric made up of yarns equal in number to the wales,

each yarn being knit in in two wales, each Wale being commonto two adjacent yarns. Thus on a circular independent needle machine, by progressive and continuous action of the needles, a true warp knit fabric is made.

A modification is indicated in Figs. 4 and '7. Here a rib .machine of the same general type of Fig. 1 is shown, the cylinder'and dial, cylinder raised cylinder needles.

gear 63 driven by shaft 65 in and dial needles and actuating means therefor including the cylinder cam ring, the dial cam ring and cylinder needle selecting means being the same. The wrap means is different and comprises fingers 55, individual to the cylinder needles, secured at 56, and having the plurality of selecting butts 51 actuated selectively by cam 58 vertically movable. well known to the art and need not be further described in detail. A means and method is here disclosed whereby both tuck and wrap stitches may be made on this type machine.

Normally in this type machine all of the cylinder needles are raised to wrap position at which the latches are cleared and then selected ones only of the wrapping lingers are actuated, de-

pending upon the location of butts 51 and cam 58,'

to form the design. It was necessary in this type of machine to this form of selection that all the cylinder needles be raised to latch clearing position. Now I have provided selective cylinder needle control as shown vin Fig. 4, and while selective cylinder needle control alone is well known, still I operate the needle selecting means and the wrapping finger selecting means so that they cooperate specifically, allowing as a result thereof, the formation of tuck stitches in addition to the normal wrap stitches. Referring to Fig. 7 the knitting point is shown at K and the needles afterknitting travel at a lowlevel until they are all raised to tuck level T, thereafter at S certain cylinder needles are raised to clearing position P' Where according to the finger selection, cer tain of the raised cylinder needles are wrapped at W b-y selected fingers to form the design, the remaining raised cylinder needles knitting in the regular way. At S those needles upon which it is desired to tuck are not raised but remain at the tuck level and follow the dotted line shown to take body yarn without clearing their old loops below the latches. At S' all the needles, except those upon which it is desired to tuck, are raised, and of these raised needles certain ones receiver wrap- The wrap means is of a type.

at each feed of a multi-feed machine, the only restriction being that the wrap stitches and the tuck stitches are knitted at the same feed. In a machine having fingers all of which are operated at each feed, then a double selection as shown in Fig. 6 is made in connection therewith to form the tuck and wrap stitches. In this case the constantly active fingers replace as wrapping means, the offcenter wrap cylinder, but in both cases the action of forming wrap and tuck stitches takes v place at one feed.

A modification-is shown in Fig. 3 in which the oicenter. cylinder is shown as applied to a revolving cylinder type of machine. The needle cylinder is shown at 59, with a latch ring at having thesemi-cylindrical offset 6I into which the lower end of the eccentric wrap cylinder 62 projects in position for wrapping selectively The wrap cylinder 62 thereon in mesh with unison with the The driving and selecting means has gear teeth 64 formed needle cylinder.

is essentially the same asin Lawson Patent 1302,-

608, and neednot be described in further detail. However the wrap cylinder is of greater diameter than in said patent, here being of a diameter equal to the needle cylinder and providing a yarn for each needle. Cylinder 62 is provided with f holes 66 and 61 through which yarns are guided on their way to the needles. Designs are mage by selectively raising needles as in said Lawson patent. In Fig. 5 the relation of the wrap holes 61 to needles N' is shown diagrammatically, the centers of the needle cylinder and wrap cylinder being stationary, though both cylinders rotate in the direction of the arrows. In Fig. 5 the overlap point of the two circles remains constantly in one position with relation to the centers, though the portions of the two circles taking part in the overlap is constantly changing. In Figs. to 13, the overlap point of the two circles is constantly moving in a circular path about the needle circle, while at the same time the portions of the two circles taking part in the overlap also constantly changes.

It will be seen that by virtue of the eccentric wrap means disclosed that each yarn passes between two needles without any physical contact between the needles and the wrapping means. Consequently the means is applicable to very fine gage machines, since the only limitation on the gage is that there be sufcient space between two adjacent needles for a yarn to pass therebetween.

'I'he yarns which are fed to the cylinder needles have been designated wrap yarns Awhen used in connection with a ground thread to form a design thereon, whereas when used without a ground thread have been designated as Warp yarns. This use is in conformity with the art in which design yarns are called wrap yarns by virtue of being wound around a needle, whereas a fabric is said to be made up of warp yarns when they constitute the fabric and extend in a walewise direction. The terms thread and yarn" have been used synonomously.

It is obvious that with two needle wrapping, ground thread feeding, and needle selection, that designs of one yarn two wales in extent can be made.

I claim:

l. In a circular rib knitting machine having a stationary cylinder and dial, needles in'said cylu inder and dial, rotary cam rings for said cylinder and said dial needles, an annular member eccentric to said cylinder and rotating in unison with said cam rings, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle having means to wrap individual yarns aboutcylinder needles and seated in said member and means to keep said cylinder from rotating with said member.

2. The method of making tubular warp knit fabric on a circular independent needle machine of warp threads equalin number to the number of needles knitting which includes the steps of continuously and progressively feeding in one direction each warp thread to two adjacentneedles and of' continuously and progressively actuating the needles taking the yarn. y

3. A circular independent needle knitting machine for making tubular warp knit fabric of yarns equal in number to the number of needles knitting having means to feed each yarn to two adjacent needles continuously and progressively in one direction and means to actuate the needles continuously and progressively to knit said yarns.

4. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle and having a series of yarn guide apertures therein for wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable as a unit so that said apertures move in unison to wrap said yarns around said needles'.

5. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle and having a series of wrap yarn guide apertures therein equal in number to the number of needles, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable as a unit so that said apertures move in unison to wrap the yarns around said needles.

6. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle and having a series of yarn guides therein for wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being'disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable as a unit so that said guides move in unison to wrap said yarns around said needles.

7. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, wrap means comprising a series of wrap yarn guides arranged in a circle in xed relation to each other of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle, said wrap means being disposed so that said circle of yarn guides is eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable as a unit so that said yarn guides move in unison to wrap the yarnsaround said needles.

8. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, wrap means comprising a series of wrap yarn guides equal in number to the number of needles and arranged in a circle in ixed relation to each other, said wrap means being disposed so that said circle of yarn guides is eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable as a unit so that said yarn guides move in unison to wrap indi- -vidual yarns around individual needles.

9. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, wrap means comprising a series of yarn guides for wrap yarns, equal in number to the number of cylinder needles and arranged in a circle in fixed relation to each other, means for moving all of said guides in unison, so that each of said guides moves in a substantiallycircular path above a cylinder needle to wrap a yarn around each cylinder needle.

10. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder,l needles in said cylinder, a needle dial, needles in said dial, said cylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal tothe diameter of the cylinder needle circle and having a series of .yarn guide apertures therein for wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and dial and movable as a unit so that said apertures move in unison to wrap said yarns around said cylinder needles.

11. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a needle dial, needles in said dial, said cylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle and having a series of yarn guide apertures therein for wrap yarns equal in number to the number of cylinder needles, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric' to said needle cylinder and dial and movable as a unit so that said apertures move in unison to wrap said and movable as a unit to wrap the yarnsaround yarns around said cylinder needles.

12. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles in said cylinder, a needle diaLVneedles in said dial, said lcylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a wrap cylinder having a series of wrap yarn guide apertures therein, said Wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and dial and movable as a unit so that said apertures move in unison to Wrap the yarns around said cylinder needles. i

13. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles therein, a needle dial, needles therein, said cylinder an'd dial needles cooperatively' knitting to form rib fabric, wrap means comprising a series of wrap yarn guides individual to each cylinder needle and arranged in a circle in xed relation to each other, means for moving said circle of guides in unison to wrap individual yarns around individual cylinder needles.

14. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, needles therein, a needle dial, needles therein. said cylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a Wrap cylinder disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder, said vwrap cylinder adapted to receive wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being substantially stationary with respect to rotation about its own axis and movable with respect to said needle cylinder and dial so that the axis of the wrap cylinder rotates about the axis of the needle cylinder, to wrap the yarns around said cylinder needles.

15. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having Aa stationary needle cylinder,

needles therein, a needle dial, needles thereinh said cylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a wrap cylinder of a.

diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle and having a series of yarn guides equal. in number to the .number of said cylinder needles, said guides adapted to receive wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being substantially stationary lwith respect to rotation about its own axis and movable with respect to said needle cylinder and dial so that the axis of the wrap cylinder rotates about the axis of the needle cylinder, to wrap the yarns around said cylinder needles.

16. In a circular independent needle rib ting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, needles therein, a needle dial, needles therein, said cylinder and dial, needlescooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a wra cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle and having a series of holes therein equal in number to the number of vcylinder needles, saidV holes adapted to receive wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being eccentric with relationto said needle cylinder and movable as a unit to Wrap the yarns around said cylinder needles.

v,17. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, needles therein, a needle dial, needles therein, said cylinder and dial needles cooperatively knitting to form rib fabric, a vertical dial post upon which said dial is mounted, `a wrap cylinder disposed around said dial and dial post and having a series said cylinder needles.

18. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a stationary cylinder and dial, needles in said cylinder and dial, rotary cam rings for said cylinder and dial needles, an annular member eccentric to'said cylinder and rotating in unison with said cam rings, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle having means to wrap individual-yarns around cylinder needles and seated in said member, and means to keep said cylinder from rotating with said member, said wrap cylinder being circumferentially adjustable.

19. In a circular independent needle knittingl machine having a rotary needle cylinder, needles therein, a rotary wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle and having a series of yarn guides therein for wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder, the cooperative rotation of the needle cylinder and the wrap cylinder, each upon its own axis, causing said guides to wrap the yarns around said needles.

20. In a circular independent needle knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, needles therein, a. rotary Wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the needle circle and having a series of yarn guides therein equal in number to the numberof needles, said guides adapted to receive Wrap yarns, said wrap cylinder being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder, the cooperative rotation of the needle cylinder and the wrap cylinder, each upon its own iixed axis, causing said guides to wrap the yarns around said needles.,l

21. In a. circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, needles therein, a stationary needle dial,

needles therein, a dial post supporting said dial,

a rotary cylinder cam ring, a rotary dial cam ring, a revolving tubular shaft surroundingsaid dial post and driving said dial cam ring, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle, having a series of yarn guides equal in number to the number of cylinder needles, said yarn guides adapted to receive wrap yarns, said wrap. cylinder surrounding said revolving tubular shaft and being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable to wrap the yarns around said needles.

22. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a stationary needle cylinder, needles therein, a stationary needle dial, needles therein, a dial post supporting said dial, a rotary cylinder cam ring, a rotary dial cam ring, a revolving tubular shaft surrounding said dial post and driving said dial cam ring, an annular member eccentric to said cylinder and rotating in unison'with said camrings, a wrap cylinder having means to wrap yarns around said cylinder needles, said wrap cylinder surrounding said revolving shaft and seated in said annular member, and means to keep Asaid cylinder from rotating with said member.

23. In a circular independent needle rib knitting machine having a needle cylinder, needles therein, a needle dial, needles therein, a cylinder cam ring, a dial cam ring, a wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle and having a series oi yarn guide apertures at one end thereof equal in number to the number of cylinder needles, said apertures adapted to receive Wrap yarns, the portion of said wrap cylinder containing said apertures surrounding said dial cam ring and being disposed eccentric to said needle cylinder and movable to Wrap the yarns around said needles.,

movable to wrap said yarns around said needles, the central portion of said Wrap cylinder providing access to the parts of the machine within including said dial cam ring. f

25. In a circular independent needle rib knit- I ting machine having a stationary cylinder and dial, needles in said cylinder and dial, rotary cam rings for said cylinder and dial needles, an annular member eccentric to said cylinder and rotating in unison with said cam rings, a Wrap cylinder of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cylinder needle circle having means to Wrap individual yarns around cylinder needles and seated in said member, said annular member being adjustable both circumferentially and radially.

v NATHAN LEVIN. 

